Thursday, July 12, 2012

Diversity Thursday

Good news or bad news? Out of Congress, it is hard to tell, but perhaps a little of both. It all depends on who implements it, I guess. From the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013.

They want the beans lined up and counted ... they just don't want you to do anything with it. Ummmm, yea. Are we still having "Accountability Reviews?"

SEC. 507. DIVERSITY IN MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND RELATED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Plan to Achieve Military Leadership Reflecting Diversity of United States Population-
(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 37 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 656. Diversity in military leadership: plan

`(a) Plan- The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) shall develop and implement a plan to accurately measure the efforts of the Department of Defense to achieve a dynamic, sustainable level of members of the armed forces (including reserve components) that, among both commissioned officers and senior enlisted personnel of each armed force, will reflect the diverse population of the United States eligible to serve in the armed forces, including gender specific, racial, and ethnic populations. Any metric established pursuant to this subsection may not be used in a manner that undermines the merit-based processes of the Department of Defense, including such processes for accession, retention, and promotion. Such metrics may not be combined with the identification of specific quotas based upon diversity characteristics. The Secretary shall continue to account for diversified language and cultural skills among the total force of the military.
`(b) Metrics to Measure Progress in Developing and Implementing Plan- In developing and implementing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) shall develop a standard set of metrics and collection procedures that are uniform across the armed forces. The metrics required by this subsection shall be designed--
`(1) to accurately capture the inclusion and capability aspects of the armed forces broader diversity plans, including race, ethnic, and gender specific groups, functional expertise, and diversified cultural and language skills as to leverage and improve readiness; and
`(2) to be verifiable and systematically linked to strategic plans that will drive improvements.
`(c) Definition of Diversity- In developing and implementing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) shall develop a uniform definition of diversity.
`(d) Consultation- Not less than annually, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall meet with the Secretaries of the military departments, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and senior enlisted members of the armed forces to discuss the progress being made toward developing and implementing the plan established under subsection (a).
`(e) Cooperation With States- The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the National Guard Bureau and States in tracking the progress of the National Guard toward developing and implementing the plan established under subsection (a).'.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
`656. Diversity in military leadership: plan.'.
(b) Inclusion in DOD Manpower Requirements Report- Section 115a(c) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
`(4) The progress made in implementing the plan required by section 656 of this title to accurately measure the efforts of the Department to reflect the diverse population of the United States eligible to serve in the armed forces.
`(5) The number of members of the armed forces, including reserve components, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank under each military department.
`(6) The number of members of the armed forces, including reserve components, who were promoted during the year covered by the report, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank under each military department.
`(7) The number of members of the armed forces, including reserve components, who reenlisted or otherwise extended the commitment to military service during the year covered by the report, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank under each military department.
`(8) The available pool of qualified candidates for the general officer grades of general and lieutenant general and the flag officer grades of admiral and vice admiral.'.
(c) Coast Guard Report-
(1) ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall prepare an annual report addressing diversity among commissioned officers of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve and among enlisted personnel of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. The report shall include--
(A) an assessment of the available pool of qualified candidates for the flag officer grades of admiral and vice admiral;
(B) the number of such officers and personnel, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank;
(C) the number of such officers and personnel who were promoted during the year covered by the report, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank; and
(D) the number of such officers and personnel who reenlisted or otherwise extended the commitment to the Coast Guard during the year covered by the report, listed by sex and race or ethnicity for each rank.
(2) SUBMISSION- The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted each year not later than 45 days after the date on which the President submits to Congress the budget for the next fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code. Each report shall be submitted to the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

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